TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses in a radio communication
network. The invention relates to direct links between two user equipment units, so
called device-to-device (D2D) communication, and especially for estimating the quality
of communicating by means of a possible direct link.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In a typical cellular radio system, wireless terminals (also known as mobile stations
and/or user equipment units (UEs)) communicate via a radio access network (RAN) to
one or more core networks. User equipment units (UEs) may be, for example, mobile
telephones ("cellular" telephones), desktop computers, laptop computers, and tablet
computers, or stationary units, with wireless communication capability to communicate
voice and/or data with a radio access network.
[0003] The radio access network covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas,
with each cell area being served by a base station, e.g., a radio base station (RBS),
which in some networks is also called for example "NodeB" or (in Long Term Evolution
(LTE)) eNodeB (eNB). A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided
by the radio base station equipment at a base station site. Each cell is identified
by an identity within the local radio area, which is broadcast in the cell. The base
stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the
UEs within range of the base stations.
[0004] Specifications for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)
are on-going within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Another name used
for E-UTRAN is the Long Term Evolution (LTE) Radio Access Network (RAN). LTE is a
variant of a 3GPP radio access technology wherein the radio base station nodes are
connected directly to a core network rather than to radio network controller (RNC)
nodes. In general, in LTE the functions of a radio network controller node are performed
by the radio base stations nodes. As such, the radio access network of an LTE system
has an essentially "flat" architecture comprising radio base station nodes without
reporting to radio network controller nodes.
[0005] The LTE standard is based on multi-carrier based radio access schemes, Orthogonal
Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in the downlink and Single-Carrier Frequency-Division
Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) in the uplink. Orthogonal FDM's (OFDM) spread spectrum technique
distributes the data over a large number of carriers that are spaced apart at precise
frequencies. TD-LTE (time division LTE) is a variant of LTE where a single channel
is used for transmissions in both directions, uplink and downlink, but divided in
time.
[0006] GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) is an earlier well known system for
mobile communication. The GSM originally used one dedicated frequency band for uplink
communication from the user equipment, often called mobile device, to the radio access
network and one dedicated frequency band for downlink communication from the radio
access network to the mobile device. Such mobile devices where not adapted for direct
communication from device-to-device. Mobile devices could, in addition to their GSM
communication ability, be equipped with Bluetooth transceivers for close range communication
from device-to-device. The user could then decide whether to call another mobile device
(or UE) using the GSM cellular network, in which case communication where established
via a base station of the GSM network, or to establish a direct communication using
Bluetooth.
[0007] In later cellular radio access network systems, such as those of the 3rd generation,
the available frequency spectra can be more freely employed and base stations and
user equipment have been provided with transceivers that are able to transmit and
receive in the same frequency band. This has made it possible to communicate using
the same transceiver and frequency bands, from one user equipment to another, either
in a two-hop fashion via the radio access network or, alternatively directly from
device-to-device in a one-hop fashion. Direct communication in the same frequency
band can be done also in GSM, but the mobile units was not prepared for it from the
beginning.
[0008] A direct communication link between two UEs may be advantageous in lessen the traffic
load of the radio access network. It would also be advantageous if the users need
not have any special skill, or perform any specific operations, for entering a direct
communication. Such direct communication may make radio resources usually employed
between the radio access network and the UEs available for other communications. At
close range direct communication D2D may be made at low power consumption and large
capacity in relation to communication via the radio access network. However, establishing
direct communication requires resources, and failure in the process of establishing
direct communication need to be avoided so as not to counteract an overall purpose
of economizing in radio resources.
[0009] WO 2004/077917 discloses methods for establishing peer-to-peer communication between mobile terminals.
Each mobile terminal uses radio resource information for testing characteristics of
a dedicated uplink channel between the other one of the mobile terminals and the network.
[0010] US 2010/279672 discloses methods for switching from a first communication mode to a second communication
mode. In this switching a plurality protocol entities are reconfigured.
WO 2004/103008 A1 discloses a method in wireless communication systems for switching from P2P (Peer
to Peer) communication mode to UP-UTRAN-DOWN (conventional communication mode) and
from conventional communication mode to P2P mode.
SUMMARY
[0011] It is an objective of the present disclosure to at least alleviate a problem in the
prior art in respect of radio resource management by providing methods of estimating
the quality of a direct communication between two UEs. The invention is set out in
the appended set of claims. The embodiments and/or examples of the following description
which are not covered by the appended claims are considered as not being part of the
present invention. For this purpose the invention provides a method, performed by
a radio access network, for estimating a radio link quality of a direct link between
a first user equipment and a second user equipment. The invention also provides a
method performed in a user equipment, which method is used to monitor communication
for the purpose of estimating communication in a possible direct link between a first
user equipment and a second user equipment.
[0012] The method performed by a radio access network for estimating a radio link quality,
is performed by a network node, such as a base station and/or a radio network controller,
and, is performed during communication between the first user equipment and the second
user equipment including employing a first uplink channel and a first downlink channel
for the communication from the first user equipment to the second user equipment via
the network. The communication preferably, also includes employing a second uplink
channel and a second downlink channel for the communication from the second user equipment
to the first user equipment.
[0013] The method includes instructing the second user equipment to eavesdrop the first
uplink; receiving eavesdropping data, concerning the first uplink, from the second
user equipment; obtaining data from the first uplink received directly from the first
user equipment; and evaluating the first uplink reception of the second user equipment,
which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping data from the second user equipment,
and the data obtained from the first uplink from the first user equipment.
[0014] This evaluation gives an estimate of the quality of direct communication between
the two user equipment units.
[0015] An advantage with such a method is that the user equipment need not perform an estimation
of the quality of a direct link to the other user equipment. Such an additional direct
link need not be created for the purpose of measuring, since the already established
uplink is monitored.
[0016] The method of monitoring being performed by a user equipment is performed when the
first user equipment communicate user data to the second user equipment via a cellular
radio access network by means of a first uplink from the first user equipment to the
cellular radio access network, and a first downlink from the cellular radio access
network to the second user equipment, and the cellular radio access network use a
at least one control channel for controlling the communication of the second user
equipment. The method being performed by the second user equipment and comprises:
receiving an instruction from the cellular radio access network to eavesdrop the first
uplink from the first user equipment; receiving transmissions on the first uplink;
obtaining digital data from the received first uplink transmissions; and reporting
to the cellular network, which reporting includes transmitting the obtained digital
data.
[0017] A further object of the invention is to facilitate enabling of such a direct communication
from device-to-device (D2D).
[0018] A further object of the invention is to facilitate a mode switch from communication
between two UEs via a radio access network, into a direct D2D communication between
the two UEs.
[0019] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a communication node,
such as serving radio base station (RBS) comprising a processor and a memory. The
memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the communication node, or
radio base station, to obtain information of a possible direct link between a first
and a second user equipment.
[0020] According to the invention a communication node for a cellular radio access network,
such as a base station, is provided for communication between a first user equipment
and a second user equipment. The communication node comprises an evaluator for enabling
the communication node to perform a method of estimating a radio link quality of a
possible direct link between the first user equipment and the second user equipment.
The method of estimating a radio link quality of a possible direct link between the
first user equipment and the second user equipment is performed during communication
between the first user equipment and the second user equipment, which communication
includes using a first uplink and a first downlink channel for the communication from
the first user equipment to the second user equipment via the cellular radio access
network. The communication node is adapted to perform the method steps of instructing
the second user equipment to eavesdrop the first uplink, receiving eavesdropping data,
concerning the first uplink, from the second user equipment, obtaining data from the
first uplink received directly from the first user equipment, and evaluating the first
uplink reception of the second user equipment, which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping
data from the second user equipment, and the data obtained from the first uplink from
the first user equipment.
[0021] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a computer program
product comprising computer-executable components for causing a communication node,
especially a radio base station (RBS), to perform an embodiment of the method of the
present disclosure when the computer-executable components are run on a processor
comprised in the communication node or the RBS.
[0022] According to the invention a computer program for a communication node of a cellular
radio access network is provided. The computer program comprising program code, which
when run by the communication node causes the communication node to perform a method
of estimating a radio link quality of a possible direct link between a first user
equipment and a second user equipment, the method being performed during communication
between the first user equipment and the second user equipment, which communication
includes using a first uplink and a first downlink channel for the communication from
the first user equipment to the second user equipment via the cellular radio access
network, especially a base station. The method comprising the steps of instructing
the second user equipment to eavesdrop the first uplink, receiving eavesdropping data,
concerning the first uplink, from the second user equipment, obtaining data from the
first uplink received directly from the first user equipment, and evaluating the first
uplink reception of the second user equipment, which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping
data from the second user equipment, and the data obtained from the first uplink from
the first user equipment.
[0023] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a user equipment.
[0024] According to the invention a user equipment for communicating in a cellular radio
access network is provided. The user equipment is provided for communicating with
other user equipment, the user equipment comprising an eavesdropper enabling the user
equipment to perform a method of monitoring communication in the cellular radio access
network for estimating communication in a possible direct link with an other user
equipment, when communicating with the other user equipment via the cellular radio
access network, during which communication the other user equipment communicate user
data to the user equipment via the cellular radio access network by means of a first
uplink from the other user equipment to the cellular radio access network, and a first
downlink from the cellular radio access network to the user equipment. The method
of monitoring comprises receiving an instruction from the cellular radio access network
to eavesdrop the first uplink, receiving transmissions on the first uplink obtaining
digital data from the received first uplink transmissions, and reporting to the cellular
radio access network, which reporting includes transmitting the obtained digital data.
[0025] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a computer program
product for a user equipment.
[0026] According to the invention a computer program for a user equipment is provided. The
user equipment is provided for communicating with other user equipment in a cellular
radio access network, and the computer program comprising program code, which when
run on the user equipment enables the user equipment to perform a method of monitoring
communication in the cellular radio access network for estimating communication in
a possible direct link with an other user equipment, when the user equipment communicate
with the other user equipment via the cellular radio access network, during which
communication the other user equipment communicate user data to the user equipment
via the cellular radio access network by means of a first uplink from the other user
equipment to the cellular radio access network, and a first downlink from the cellular
radio access network to the user equipment. The method of monitoring communication
comprises receiving an instruction from the cellular radio access network to eavesdrop
the first uplink, receiving transmissions on the first uplink, obtaining digital data
from the received first uplink transmissions, and reporting to the cellular radio
access network, which reporting includes transmitting the obtained digital data.
[0027] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to computer program products
comprising an embodiment of each one of the computer programs of the present disclosure,
and a computer readable means on which the computer program is stored.
[0028] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their
ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein.
All references to "a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are
to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus,
component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any
method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed,
unless explicitly stated. The use of "first", "second" etc. for different features/components
of the present disclosure are only intended to distinguish the features/components
from other similar features/components and not to impart any order or hierarchy to
the features/components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig 1 is a schematic illustration of communication between to user equipment units.
Fig 2 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of a method.
Fig 3 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of a method performed by user equipment.
Fig 4 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of user equipment in accordance
with the present invention.
Fig 5A and Fig 5B is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of a method performed
by the radio access network in accordance with the present invention.
Fig 6 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a network node in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed
as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided
by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will
fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers
refer to like elements throughout the description. Data transmitted from one device
(such as user equipment, node or base station) to another device should in general
be considered as received by the other device, and data received by one device from
another device should be considered as having been transmitted by the other device.
Even though such data may include errors.
[0031] Figure 1 illustrates a first 1 and a second user equipment 2 (mobile device A and
mobile device B, respectively) communicating with each other in a cellular radio access
network, RAN, 3. Two different modes are illustrated. In a first communication mode
the first 1 and second 2 user equipment communicate via a base station 3 of the cellular
RAN. In the second mode, the first 1 and the second user equipment 2 communicate by
means of a direct radio link from device-to-device (D2D). In the first mode, each
user equipment unit 1, 2 communicates via the network by means of uplink and downlink
radio channels. Each downlink and uplink comprises traffic channels and control channels,
wherein user data exchanged between the first and the second user equipment 1, 2 are
transferred by means of the traffic channels and the control channels are used to
control the communication. For this purpose the control channels are used for example
for controlling handover between base stations, or between different sectors of a
base station, and for example for transferring coding information, power control instructions
and measurements. Moreover the control channels may be used for instruction one, or
both, of the user equipment units 1, 2 to switch mode from communication via the cellular
RAN to direct communication from device-to-device. During communication in the first
mode, the first user equipment 1 transmit user data by means of a first uplink UL1
to the base station 3, which user data is subsequently transferred from the base station
3 to the second user equipment 2 by means of a first downlink DL1. In a similar way,
user data from the second user equipment 2 is transferred to the first user equipment
1 by means of a second uplink UL2 to the base station 3 and a second downlink DL2
from the base station 3 to the first user equipment 1. The second user equipment 2
is also adapted for listening in to the transmissions on the first uplink UL1, as
illustrated by the broken line UL1 and receive transmissions on the first uplink UL1
directly from the first user equipment 1. The second user equipment 2 is further adapted
for at least partly decoding the transmissions on to the first uplink UL1, and eavesdrop
data from the first uplink UL1. This is illustrated in more detail in figure 2. Also
the first user equipment 1 is adapted for listening in (not illustrated) and eavesdrop
on uplink transmissions from the second user equipment 2 to the base station 3.
[0032] Figure 2 illustrates a communication session in accordance with the first mode of
communication wherein the first 1, and second user equipment 2 communicate via the
cellular base station of the RAN 3. The first user equipment 1 transmit traffic /user
data, step 41, via the first uplink UL1 to the base station 3 that re-transmits the
data, step 42, to the second user equipment 2, which receives, step 43, the incoming
data. During the illustrated on-going communication the first user device 1 transmit
more data, step 44 via the base station 3, which re-transmits the data 45 to the second
user equipment 2, which receives the incoming data, step 46. In the next step the
base station 3 instructs the second user equipment 2 to eavesdrop data transmitted
on the first uplink by transmitting, in step 47, decoding parameters to the second
user equipment 2, which decoding parameters enable the second user equipment to listen
in on the first uplink and obtain the data from the first uplink.
[0033] The decoding parameters include an identification of the first uplink and other parameters
for decoding the first uplink, such as modulation-scheme, code-rate and/or encryption
keys. The purpose is to enable the second user equipment 2 to obtain a string of bits
so that the quality of the transmission on the first uplink UL1 subsequently can be
estimated. It is preferred to only transmit parameters that allow a partial decoding
of the data on the first uplink. Such a partial decoding provides some security in
handling the data and also facilitates the decoding. The decoding will then result
in an intermediate form of the transmitted user data from the first user equipment.
It is, however, also possible to transmit all parameters needed for a total decoding
of the user data into final user data.
[0034] The next time the first user equipment 1 transmit data on the uplink, step 49, the
base station 3 decodes and buffer the decoded data, in step 50 and retransmit the
data, step 51, for subsequent reception, in step 53, by the second user equipment.
During the uplink transmission from the first user equipment 1, the second user equipment
2 receives and eavesdrop, step 53, the data directly from the first uplink, using
the previously received decoding parameters for obtaining the data. In the next step,
the second user equipment reports, step 54, the obtained data to the base station
3. The base station 3 subsequently compare, step 55, the buffered data with the data
obtained by and received from the second user equipment 2.
[0035] This method of obtaining uplink data directly by the second user equipment and evaluating
the obtained data by the base station 3, performed by comparing the buffered data
from the uplink with the obtained data from the second user equipment, is repeated.
Thus, the first user equipment transmit a further set of data, step 56, which is received,
decoded and buffered by the base station, step 57, re-transmitted to the second user
equipment, step 59, which second user equipment also eavesdrop, step 58, the first
uplink directly. The data obtained during the eavesdropping is reported (transmitted)
to the base station that evaluates the direct link by comparing the further set of
buffered data with the further set of obtained data, step 60. Figure 2 illustrates
how the process is repeated once again with data transmission, step 61, from the first
user equipment on the first uplink. Reception, decoding and buffering at the base
station, step 62, eavesdropping of the first uplink UL1 at the second user equipment,
step 63, reporting the data obtained during the eavesdropping, step 64 and evaluating
the radio link, step 65, by comparing the buffered data (of step 62) with the eavesdropped
data (obtained in step 63, and reported to the base station in step 64).
[0036] Further details of embodiments of the user equipment and the base station will be
given with reference to figures 3-6.
[0037] When the GSM system was created it had different frequency bands for the uplink and
the downlink communication. One timeslot was used in the downlink frequency band and
one timeslot was used in the uplink frequency band. In later systems like GPRS and
EDGE, the uplink and downlink could be asymmetric so that a plurality of downlink
time slots where used in combination with a single timeslot for the uplink. Mobile
communications system has been developed further so that methods for dynamic allocation
of uplink and downlink is possible, wherein the downlink and uplink can be allocated
to the same frequency bands and channels are freely allocated upon need. UMTS (Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System) is a third generation system that allows the use
of the same frequency band for uplink and downlink communication. Thus, both asymmetric
downlink and uplink has been made possible together with sharing of frequency bands
between uplink and downlink.
[0038] Implementation of the invention is easier in such systems wherein the user equipment
already is able to receive both uplink and downlink transmissions. However, the invention
may be employed in other systems provided the user equipment is enabled for such dynamic
allocation of channels to the uplink and downlink.
[0039] Examples of systems, wherein user equipment can communicate using the same frequency
band for receiving downlink communication and transmitting uplink communication, include
the TD-LTE and TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access).
Both these systems use, so called, Time Division Duplex (or TDD) for scheduling the
communication. The most straightforward implementation may be an implementation in
a network node or base station and user equipment adapted for TDD communication in
accordance with such systems and protocols.
[0040] Figure 3 illustrates monitoring communication on an uplink by the second user equipment.
A communication session, such as the one illustrated in figure 1 and 2, is started
(101). The user equipment communicates with an other (referred to as the first in
figures 1 and 2) user equipment via a radio access network. The communication includes
transmissions of user data from the other user equipment on a first uplink UL1 to
a node of the radio access network, and the subsequent transmission of the user data
to by means of a first downlink DL1 to the (second) user equipment. During this communication
the (second) user equipment exchange control data with the node of radio access network
by means control channels.
[0041] In step 102, the (second) user equipment receives an instruction from the radio access
network to eavesdrop uplink transmissions of user data from the other (or first) user
equipment. The eavesdropping instruction includes decoding parameters that are received
by the (second) user equipment. The decoding parameters contain decoding parameters
for decoding the first uplink and enable the (second) user equipment to decode the
first uplink. The parameters may include code rate, modulation scheme, spreading code
and encryption key of the first uplink. The parameters enable the (second) user equipment
to decode the first uplink into an intermediate form of the user data at least, but
may alternatively enable a complete decoding into the user data. The eavesdropping
instruction also includes an identification of which data transmissions of the first
uplink that should be eavesdropped. This identification may indicate a time period,
or a plurality of time periods, during which the first uplink should be eavesdropped.
The identification may indicate specific time slots of the first link transmissions
that should be eavesdropped, and/or identify a resource block of the first uplink
to be eavesdropped.
[0042] In the next step, 103, the (second) user equipment starts the eavesdropping by listening
into and receive the transmissions of user data, from the other (first) user equipment,
on the first uplink. Thus, the (second) user equipment listens to the uplink transmissions
as identified in the eavesdropping instruction.
[0043] The eavesdropping is continued in step 104 by obtaining the user data from the received
transmissions of the first uplink. The user data is obtained by means of the decoding
parameters received through the eavesdropping instruction. The decoding of the received
user data provides digital data as a sequence of bits.
[0044] In an embodiment, the obtained data may be combined into a compact form, using for
example, checksums, CRC (cyclic redundancy check) and/or hash-values. In such a case
the node, or base station, will perform the algorithm for compacting the data to the
same format so that a comparison can be made.
[0045] The data obtained from the eavesdropping is subsequently reported to the node of
the radio access network, in step 105. The monitoring of the first uplink may end
by this transmission, or be repeated by performing the steps of listening 103, data
obtaining 104 and reporting 105.
[0046] In the mean time the node of the RAN has obtained a corresponding set of the user
data, which has been stored for enabling comparing the user data obtained by the eavesdropping
and user data received directly from the other (or first) user equipment. The comparison
of the data sets results in an evaluation of the radio link quality between the (second)
user equipment and the other (first) user equipment. If the evaluation results in
the fulfilment of a quality criteria, e.g. the two sets of data are the same to a
certain extent, the node may instruct the (second) user equipment to switch from the
first communication mode, i.e. the communication via the network, to a second mode
of communication; the device-to-device communication. Thus, the method of monitoring
the radio link may be followed by a method of switching mode into direct device-to-device
communication.
[0047] An instruction to perform a mode switch into device-to-device communication may therefore
be received by the second user equipment, in step 106. This instruction may include
further communication parameters for the second user equipment to be used for direct
reception and decoding of user data from the first user equipment on the channel that
hitherto has been used as the first uplink. The instruction may, alternatively, include
an identification of another channel and parameters for decoding that channel. The
instruction may also include an identification of a channel that should be used for
transmissions to the other (first) user equipment.
[0048] The (second) user equipment performs a switch into device-to-device communication,
in step 107, using the channels provided for this communication as received in the
mode switch instruction.
[0049] During the device-to-device communication, the user equipment, or both user equipment
units, may continue to report measurements to the node of the radio access network.
Such reporting may include reception of for example broadcasts from several nodes
of the radio access network. The user equipment may also initiate measurements of
the communication with the first user equipment in the device-to-device mode and report
such measurements, or establish and sending quality reports based on such measurements,
to the node of the network.
[0050] The user equipment includes a combination of hardware and software for performing
its functions, including monitoring and mode switching, which includes for example
a micro processor, memory and a computer program executed by the micro processor.
When implementing the invention, the extent to which hardware and software are modified,
and how the implementation is divided between the hardware and software, depends,
as noted by a person skilled in the art, on which type of user equipment is modified,
and for which radio access technology it is adapted.
[0051] A simplified illustration of the user equipment for illustrating an embodiment of
a user equipment in accordance with the invention is provided in figure 4. The illustrated
components are used for enabling the user equipment to perform the methods described
in figures 2 and 3. The figure 4 illustrate main features of the user equipment for
illustrating mainly the difference of the user equipment compared to prior art. The
user equipment 10 includes radio communication means including a transmitter 11, a
receiver 12 and a control unit (CPU), or controller, 13. The controller 13 comprises
a cellular radio communicator 14 for communicating by means of a radio access network.
The controller also comprises a device-to-device (D2D) communicator 16 enabling the
user equipment to communicate in a direct mode with an other user equipment. Further,
the user equipment comprises an eavesdropper 15 that enables the user equipment to
perform the monitoring of the uplink from the other user equipment. The cellular radio
communicator 14, the eavesdropper 15 and the device-to-device communicator 16 can
be added to a user equipment to enable the user equipment to perform the method and
functions as described herein. In user equipment units already capable of performing
communication in a network mode and in a device-to-device mode, the eavesdropper may
be added as a software for enabling monitoring of an uplink in accordance with the
invention. Figure 4 illustrates a computer program product 19 (illustrated as a disc)
that may include an eavesdropper program that enables the user equipment to perform
an eavesdropping operation by means of its cellular radio communicator 14 and its
receiver 11 and transmitter 12. The computer program product 19 may also include other
features used by a user equipment of the invention, such as providing cellular radio
communication, device-to-device communication and switching between these modes of
communication.
[0052] Figures 5A and 5B illustrates methods performed by at least one network node to provide
to functions of the invention. The illustrated method starts in step 201 with establishing
communication between a first UE1 and a second user equipment UE2. In accordance with
an embodiment of the invention, the method continues with a step of evaluating whether
the distance between the first UE1 and the second user equipment UE2 is close enough
to make it possible to communicate in a device-to-device mode. This is done in step
202 by evaluating if the distance between the user equipment units UE1, UE2 is so
large that device-to-device communication can be excluded. If the distance is too
large the method may continue communicating, step 216, in network mode. If the distance
is not considered too large, the network node determines the possibility of having
a pair of user equipment units suitable for device-to-device communication.
[0053] To further evaluate if such D2D communication is possible and possibly instruct the
user equipment units to switch to D2D communication, the node continues with step
203 by instructing one of the user equipment, in the illustrated case UE2, to eavesdrop
uplink transmissions UL1 from the other user equipment UE1.
[0054] The communication node also, in step 204, obtains data directly from the first uplink
UL1.
[0055] The instruction to eavesdrop, in step 203, includes indication of which data to eavesdrop,
and how the user equipment should handle the receptions of the uplink. The purpose
is to perform the same data transformations on the same data in the communication
node, so that the same result is determined.
[0056] When the instruction received in the user equipment, includes an indication of a
time period, or a plurality of time periods, during which the first uplink should
be eavesdropped, as described in relation to figure 3 the communication node obtain
data from the first uplink during the same period(s) and time slots. Also the communication
node uses the same decoding parameters when obtaining data, in step 204, as it includes
in the instruction of step 203. Thus, such parameters may include code rate, modulation
scheme, spreading code and encryption key of the first uplink. The parameters enable
decoding the first uplink into an intermediate form of the user data at least, but
may alternatively enable a complete decoding into the user data. Moreover, the eavesdropping
instruction, of step 203, also includes an identification of which data transmissions
of the first uplink that should be eavesdropped, and this identification may, in addition
to indicating a time period, or a plurality of time periods, during which the first
uplink should be eavesdropped, indicate specific time slots of the first link transmissions
that should be eavesdropped, and/or identify a resource block of the first uplink
to be eavesdropped.
[0057] In an embodiment, the obtained data, of step 204 and by the user equipment in step
104 of figure 3, may be combined into a compact form. Such compact form may be provided
by using checksums, CRC (cyclic redundancy check) and/or hash-values. In such a case
the communication node and the user equipment is adapted to perform an algorithm for
compacting the data to the same format so that a comparison can be made.
[0058] In the next step, 205, the communication node receiving a report from the second
user equipment UE2, which report includes the data obtained by the second user equipment
UE2 during the eavesdropping.
[0059] The communication node compares, in step 206, the user data obtained directly from
the first uplink UL1 with the eavesdropped of the first uplink UL1 that has been received
in the report from the second user equipment UE2.
[0060] In step 207 the communication node evaluates the comparing of data of step 206 and
determines if the link quality is acceptable. If the link quality is not acceptable,
the communication node decodes that the two user equipment units should continue to
communication in the first mode by means of the cellular radio access network.
[0061] If the communication node considers the link quality to be acceptable it may instruct
the second user equipment UE2 to switch into the second mode of device-to-device communication,
step 208. Alternatively, the communication node may instruct the first user equipment
UE1 to eavesdrop the second uplink UL2 from the second user equipment UE2, step 209.
[0062] The method continues in accordance with figure 5B if the communication node decides
to instruct the first user equipment UE1 to eavesdrop.
[0063] The instruction to perform a mode switch into device-to-device communication, of
step 208, may include further communication parameters for the second user equipment
to be used for direct reception and decoding of user data from the first user equipment
on the channel that hitherto has been used as the first uplink. The instruction may
include an identification of another channel and parameters for decoding that channel.
The instruction may also include an identification of a channel that should be used
for transmissions to the other (first) user equipment.
[0064] Figure 5B describes a scenario when the communication node instructs also the first
user equipment to eavesdrop, to be able to make a better estimate of a possible direct
device-to-device communication mode. The process is similar to the eavesdropping of
the second user equipment, as described in 5A, but concerns the second uplink UL2.
Therefore, the decoding parameters, the time periods and timeslots used considers
the second uplink. Figure 5B is therefore only described very briefly.
[0065] The communication node instructs the first user equipment UE1 to eavesdrop the second
uplink UL2 used by the second user equipment for transmitting user data to the first
user equipment via the radio access network.
[0066] The communication node obtains data directly from the second uplink UL2, instep 210,
using decoding parameters it has instructed the first user equipment to use. The same
data is obtained as the communication node instructs the first user equipment UE1
to obtain in step 209.
[0067] The communication node receives eavesdropped user data in a report from the first
user equipment UE1, in step 211.
[0068] The communication node compares the user data obtained directly from the second uplink
UL2, with the data received in the report from the first user equipment UE1.
[0069] In step 213, the communication node determines if the quality of reception is acceptable.
If not, it decides that the user equipment units should continue communication in
the first mode via the radio access network (step 216).
[0070] If the quality is acceptable, the communication node, in step 214, instruct the first
user equipment UE1 and/or the second user equipment to switch to device-to-device
communication. This instruction may include indications of a channel that should be
used for the device-to-device communication.
[0071] The communication node may continue to control channel communication with one or
both of the first user equipment UE1 and the second user equipment UE2, in step 216.
Such communication may be used by the communication node to determine if the user
equipment units UE1, UE2 should switch back to the first communication mode via the
radio access network.
[0072] Figure 6 is a simplified illustration of a node, in the form of a base station, of
a cellular radio access network. The base station includes a receiver 31, a transmitter
32 and a control unit, CPU 33. The base station has been provided with a pair locator
34 and a direct link evaluator, the D2D evaluator 35, for enabling the base station
to perform the methods of evaluating a radio link for device-to-device communication
in accordance with the invention. Thus, the control unit 33 of the base station especially
includes a pair locator 34 and a D2D evaluator 35 that enables the base station 3
to perform the method described in figures 5A and 5B.
[0073] In accordance with the invention described in the summary and exemplified in the
figures a number of embodiments can be provided and also be further specified. Such
embodiments and further specifications are disclosed in the following.
Embodiments of the methods performed by communication nodes
[0074] A method of estimating a radio link quality of a possible direct link between a first
user equipment (1) and a second user equipment (2) performed by at least one communication
node of a cellular radio access network (3) has been provided, which method comprises
instructing the second user equipment (2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1), receiving
eavesdropping data, concerning the first uplink (UL1), from the second user equipment
(2), obtaining data from the first uplink (UL1) received directly from the first user
equipment (1), and evaluating the first uplink (UL1) reception of the second user
equipment (2), which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping data from the second
user equipment (2), and the data obtained from the first uplink from the first user
equipment (1).
[0075] In an embodiment, the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes
providing the second user equipment (2) with an identification of the data to be eavesdropped
in the first uplink (UL1).
[0076] In a further embodiment, the identification of data preferably indicates a time period
or time-slots of the first uplink and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink
(UL1).
[0077] In an embodiment, the step of instructing includes providing the second user equipment
(2) with decoding parameters that enable decoding of the second uplink.
[0078] In a further embodiment, the decoding parameters includes at least one parameter
from a group of parameters including code-rate of second uplink, modulation scheme
of the second uplink and encryption key of the second uplink. Preferably including
any combination of two or more parameters of the said group.
[0079] In an embodiment, the evaluating step includes determining if a direct link between
the first (1) and second user equipment (2) fulfils a quality criteria. A quality
criteria such as determining correct reception of data at a larger extent than a minimum
ratio or level.
[0080] In an embodiment, the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes
instructing the second user equipment to report back eavesdropped data to the network.
[0081] In an embodiment, the method includes buffering the data obtained from the first
uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment (1), and the evaluating step includes comparing
the received eavesdropped uplink data with the buffered data.
[0082] An embodiment includes, prior to the step of instructing the second user equipment
(2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1), investigating whether the geographical distance
between the first (1) and second user equipment (2) may be short enough for direct
link communication. Such a decision can be based on in which cells the mobiles are
located, in the same cell or adjacent cells, and if the cells are to far away, also
on information received from the mobiles such as received broadcasts from base stations
or geographical coordinates from for example GPS of at least one or each mobile.
Embodiments are provided wherein the step of investigating the geographical distance
is based on at least one cell identity, for example of small cells like pico cells
of for example an LTE system that may be close enough to enable direct link communication,
or a pico cell being overlapped or included within a macro or micro cell.
[0083] In an embodiment the step of investigating the geographical distance is based on
at least one sector of a cell, such as two adjacent sectors of one cell or a sector
of one cell and another cell, such as a pico cell.
[0084] In an embodiment the step of investigating the geographical distance is based at
least in part on GPS data retrieved from one or both of the first and second user
equipment, in which case such GPS location data may be retrieved by instructing the
user equipment to report such GPS location data to the network.
[0085] Also, the user equipment may be instructed to report cell identities of the serving
cell for example providing such instructions for each user equipment.
[0086] In an embodiment the communication during which the method is performed includes
using a second uplink channel (UL2) and a second downlink channel (DL2) for the communication
from the second user equipment (2) to the first user equipment (1) via the radio access
network, and the method further comprises instructing the first user equipment (1)
to eavesdrop the second uplink (UL2), receiving eavesdropping data, concerning the
second uplink (UL2), from the first user equipment (1), obtaining data from the second
uplink (UL2) received directly from the second user equipment (2), and the evaluating
further includes evaluating the second uplink (UL2) reception of the first user equipment
(1) based on the eavesdropping data from the first user equipment (1), and the data
obtained from the second uplink from the second user equipment (2).
[0087] In an embodiment the method further comprises a step of buffering data of the first
uplink, and comparing the buffered data of the first uplink with the data received
from the second user equipment concerning the eavesdropping of the first uplink, and/or
including providing decoding parameters of the first uplink to the second user equipment,
and/or data identifying which first uplink data to be eavesdropped, and/or instructing
the second user equipment to report back to the network.
[0088] An embodiment includes a method of providing a direct communication link between
a first (1) and a second user equipment (2), the method being performed in a node
of a cellular radio access network (3), and includes the method of estimating a radio
link quality, or any embodiment of this estimating method, and further includes instructing
the second user equipment (2) to communicate directly with the first user equipment
(1) using the direct radio link.
[0089] In an embodiment the method of providing a direct communication link, further includes
instructing the first user equipment (1) and/or the second user equipment (2) to report
data about the direct radio link to the network.
[0090] In an embodiment the method of providing a direct communication link includes instructing
the first user equipment (1) and / or the second user equipment (2) to report data
about radio communication resources of the radio access network, such as resource
data received in broadcasts from base stations of the cellular radio access network
(3), to the node of the radio access network.
Methods performed by user equipment
[0091] A method of monitoring communication in a cellular radio access network (3) for estimating
communication in a possible direct link between a first user equipment (1) and a second
user equipment (2) has been provided, which method is performed by the second user
equipment (2) and comprises receiving an instruction from the cellular radio access
network (3) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1), receiving transmissions on the first
uplink (UL1), obtaining digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions,
and reporting to the cellular radio access network (3), which reporting includes transmitting
the obtained digital data.
[0092] Preferably, the cellular radio access network (3) use a at least one control channel
for controlling the communication of the second user equipment(2).
[0093] In an embodiment, the step of receiving an instruction includes receiving decoding
parameters that enable decoding of the first uplink (UL1), and the step of obtaining
digital data includes decoding the first uplink (UL1).
[0094] In an embodiment, the decoding parameters includes at least one parameter from a
group of parameters including a code-rate of first uplink, a modulation scheme of
the first uplink and an encryption key of the first uplink. Preferably any combination
of two or more parameters of the said group.
[0095] In an embodiment, the step of receiving an instruction includes receiving an identification
of the data to be eavesdropped in the first uplink (UL1).
[0096] In a further embodiment the identification of data preferably indicates a time period
or time-slots of the first uplink and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink.
[0097] In an embodiment, the communication comprises decoding data received through the
first downlink (DL1) in at least two steps including decoding the data into an intermediate
form of digital data and further into the user data, wherein the step of obtaining
digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions comprises decoding
the received uplink transmissions into digital data of the intermediate form of digital
data. Preferably this is not final user data.
[0098] In an embodiment, the reporting to the cellular radio access network being made by
means of a control channel.
Embodiments of Communication Nodes
[0099] A communication node for a cellular radio access network, such as a base station,
has been provided for communication between a first user equipment (1) and a second
user equipment (2). The communication node comprises a control unit for estimating
a radio link quality of a possible direct link between the first user equipment (1)
and the second user equipment (2), the control unit (33) comprises an evaluator (35)
being adapted to perform a method of estimating a radio link quality of a possible
direct link between the first user equipment (1) and the second user equipment (2)
and which-the method of estimating comprises instructing the second user equipment
(2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1), receiving eavesdropping data, concerning
the first uplink (UL1), from the second user equipment (2), obtaining data from the
first uplink (UL1) received directly from the first user equipment (1), and evaluating
the first uplink (UL1) reception of the second user equipment (2), which evaluation
is based on the eavesdropping data from the second user equipment (2), and the data
obtained from the first uplink from the first user equipment (1).
[0100] In an embodiment, the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes
providing the second user equipment (2) with an identification of the data to be eavesdropped
in the first uplink (UL1).
[0101] In an embodiment, the identification of data preferably indicates a time period or
time-slots of the first uplink and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink
(UL1).
[0102] In an embodiment, the step of instructing includes providing the second user equipment
(2) with decoding parameters that enable decoding of the second uplink.
[0103] In an embodiment, the decoding parameters includes at least one parameter from a
group of parameters including code-rate of second uplink, modulation scheme of the
second uplink and encryption key of the second uplink.
[0104] In an embodiment, the evaluating step includes determining if a direct link between
the first (1) and second user equipment (2) fulfils a quality criteria.
[0105] In an embodiment, the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes
instructing the second user equipment to report back eavesdropped data to the network.
[0106] In an embodiment, the communication node is adapted to buffer the data obtained from
the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment (1), the evaluating step includes
comparing the received eavesdropped uplink data with the buffered data.
[0107] In an embodiment, the communication node further includes a user equipment locator
(34) for selecting a possible direct link for the radio link quality estimation, the
user equipment locator (34) being provided to investigate, during communication between
the first (1) and the second user equipment (2) whether the geographical distance
between the first (1) and second user equipment (2) may be short enough for direct
link communication.
Embodiments of User Equipment
[0108] A user equipment (2) for communicating in a cellular radio access network has been
provided, which user equipment is provided for communicating with other user equipment
(1), the user equipment (2) comprises an eavesdropper (15) enabling the user equipment
to perform a method of monitoring communication in the cellular radio access network
(3) for estimating communication in a possible direct link with an other user equipment
(1), when the user equipment communicate with the other user equipment via the cellular
radio access network. The method of monitoring performed by the user equipment comprises
receiving an instruction from the cellular radio access network (3) to eavesdrop the
first uplink (UL1), receiving transmissions on the first uplink (UL1), obtaining digital
data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions, and reporting to the cellular
radio access network (3), which reporting includes transmitting the obtained digital
data.
[0109] In an embodiment, the step of receiving an instruction includes receiving decoding
parameters that enable decoding of the first uplink (UL1), and the step of obtaining
digital data includes decoding the first uplink (UL1).
[0110] In a further embodiment, the decoding parameters includes at least one parameter
from a group of parameters including a code-rate of first uplink, a modulation scheme
of the first uplink and an encryption key of the first uplink.
[0111] In an embodiment, the step of receiving an instruction includes receiving an identification
of the data to be eavesdropped in the first uplink (UL1).
[0112] In a further embodiment the identification of data preferably indicates a time period
or time-slots of the first uplink and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink.
[0113] In an embodiment, the communication comprises decoding data received through the
first downlink (DL1) in at least two steps including decoding the data into an intermediate
form of digital data and further into the user data, wherein the step of obtaining
digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions comprises decoding
the received uplink transmissions into digital data of the intermediate form of digital
data.
[0114] In an embodiment, the reporting to the cellular radio access network being made by
means of a control channel.
Embodiments of computer programs for communication nodes
[0115] A computer program (39) for a communication node (3) of a cellular radio access network
has been provided, which computer program comprises program code, which when run by
the communication node causes the node to perform a method of estimating a radio link
quality of a possible direct link between a first user equipment (1) and a second
user equipment (2). The method of estimating a radio link quality comprising the steps
of instructing the second user equipment (2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1),
receiving eavesdropping data, concerning the first uplink (UL1), from the second user
equipment (2), obtaining data from the first uplink (UL1) received directly from the
first user equipment (1), and evaluating the first uplink (UL1) reception of the second
user equipment (2), which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping data from the second
user equipment (2), and the data obtained from the first uplink from the first user
equipment (1).
[0116] In an embodiment the computer program further comprises program code, which when
run by the communication node causes the communication node to perform the instructing
of the second user equipment (2) including providing the second user equipment (2)
with an identification of the data to be eavesdropped in the first uplink (UL1).
[0117] In a further embodiment, the identification of data preferably indicates a time period
or time-slots of the first uplink and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink
(UL1).
[0118] In an embodiment, the step of instructing includes providing the second user equipment
(2) with decoding parameters that enable decoding of the second uplink.
[0119] In a further embodiment, the decoding parameters includes at least one parameter
from a group of parameters including code-rate of second uplink, modulation scheme
of the second uplink and encryption key of the second uplink.
[0120] In an embodiment, the evaluating step includes determining if a direct link between
the first (1) and second user equipment (2) fulfils a quality criteria.
[0121] In an embodiment, the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes
instructing the second user equipment to report back eavesdropped data to the network.
[0122] An embodiment includes buffering the data obtained from the first uplink (UL1) from
the first user equipment (1), the evaluating step includes comparing the received
eavesdropped uplink data with the buffered data.
[0123] An embodiment includes, prior to the step of instructing the second user equipment
(2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1), investigating whether the geographical distance
between the first (1) and second user equipment (2) may be short enough for direct
link communication.
[0124] In an embodiment the computer program, further comprises program code, which when
run by the communication node during communication that includes using a second uplink
channel (UL2) and a second downlink channel (DL2) for the communication from the second
user equipment (2) to the first user equipment (1) via the radio access network enable
the communication causes the communication node to perform the method steps of instructing
the first user equipment (1) to eavesdrop the second uplink (UL2), receiving eavesdropping
data, concerning the second uplink (UL2), from the first user equipment (1), obtaining
data from the second uplink (UL2) received directly from the second user equipment
(2), and the evaluating further includes
evaluating the second uplink (UL2) reception of the first user equipment (1) based
on the eavesdropping data from the first user equipment (1), and the data obtained
from the second uplink from the second user equipment (2).
[0125] In an embodiment the computer program further comprises program code, which when
run by the communication node enable the communication node to provide a direct communication
link between a first (1) and a second user equipment (2), which program code, which
when run by the communication node causes the communication node to provide the direct
communication by instructing the second user equipment (2) to communicate directly
with the first user equipment (1) using the direct radio link.
[0126] In an embodiment the computer program further comprises program code, which when
run by the communication node causes the communication node to instruct the first
user equipment (1) and/or the second user equipment (2) to report data about the direct
radio link to the network.
[0127] In an embodiment the computer program further comprises program code, which when
run by the communication node causes the communication node to instruct the first
user equipment (1) and / or the second user equipment (2) to report data about radio
communication resources of the radio access network, such as resource data received
in broadcasts from base stations of the cellular radio access network (3), to the
node of the radio access network.
Embodiments of computer programs for user equipment
[0128] A computer program (19) for a user equipment (1, 2) of a cellular radio access network
(3) has been provided, which user equipment is provided for communicating with other
user equipment (1). The computer program comprising program code, which when run on
the user equipment enables the user equipment to perform a method of monitoring communication
in the cellular radio access network (3) for estimating communication in a possible
direct link between with an other user equipment (1), when the user equipment (2)
communicate with the other_user equipment (1) via the cellular radio access network
(3). The method of monitoring communication comprises receiving an instruction from
the cellular radio access network (3) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1), receiving
transmissions on the first uplink (UL1), obtaining digital data from the received
first uplink (UL1) transmissions, and reporting to the cellular radio access network
(3), which reporting includes transmitting the obtained digital data.
[0129] In an embodiment, the step of receiving an instruction includes receiving decoding
parameters that enable decoding of the first uplink (UL1), and the step of obtaining
digital data includes decoding the first uplink (UL1).
[0130] In a further embodiment, the decoding parameters includes at least one parameter
from a group of parameters including a code-rate of first uplink, a modulation scheme
of the first uplink and an encryption key of the first uplink.
[0131] In an embodiment, the step of receiving an instruction includes receiving an identification
of the data to be eavesdropped in the first uplink (UL1).
[0132] In a further embodiment, the identification of data preferably indicates a time period
or time-slots of the first uplink and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink.
[0133] In an embodiment, the communication comprises decoding data received through the
first downlink (DL1) in at least two steps including decoding the data into an intermediate
form of digital data and further into the user data, wherein the step of obtaining
digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions comprises decoding
the received uplink transmissions into digital data of the intermediate form of digital
data.
[0134] In an embodiment, the reporting to the cellular radio access network being made by
means of a control channel.
[0135] The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments.
However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments
than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention,
as defined by the appended patent claims.
1. A method of estimating a radio link quality of a possible direct link between a first
user equipment (1) and a second user equipment (2), the method being performed by
at least one communication node of a cellular radio access network (3), characterized by the method being performed during communication between the first user equipment
(1) and the second user equipment (2), which communication includes using a first
uplink (UL1) and a first downlink channel (DL1) for the communication from the first
user equipment (1) to the second user equipment (2) via the cellular radio access
network, the method comprising
instructing (203) the second user equipment (2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1),
receiving (205) eavesdropping data, concerning the first uplink (UL1), from the second
user equipment (2),
obtaining (204) data from the first uplink (UL1) received directly from the first
user equipment (1),
evaluating (207) a first uplink (UL1) reception of the second user equipment (2),
which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping data from the second user equipment
(2), and the data obtained from the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment
(1), wherein the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes providing
the second user equipment (2) with an identification of the data to be eavesdropped
in the first uplink (UL1),
wherein the identification of data indicates a time period or time-slots of the first
uplink (UL1) and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink (UL1), wherein the
step of instructing includes providing the second user equipment (2) with decoding
parameters that enable decoding of the second uplink (UL2), wherein the step of instructing
the second user equipment (2) includes instructing the second user equipment to report
back eavesdropped data to the network, and including buffering the data obtained from
the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment (1), the evaluating step includes
comparing the received eavesdropped uplink data with the buffered data.
2. The method of estimating a radio link according to claim 1, wherein the decoding parameters
includes at least one parameter from a group of parameters including code-rate of
second uplink (UL2), modulation scheme of the second uplink (UL2) and encryption key
of the second uplink (UL2).
3. The method of estimating a radio link according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the
evaluating step includes determining if a direct link between the first (1) and second
user equipment (2) fulfils a quality criteria.
4. The method of estimating a radio link according to any of claims 1 to 3, including
prior to the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) to eavesdrop the first
uplink (UL1), investigating whether the geographical distance between the first (1)
and second user equipment (2) may be short enough for direct link communication.
5. The method of estimating a radio link according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the
communication during which the method is performed includes using a second uplink
(UL2) channel and a second downlink (DL2) channel for the communication from the second
user equipment (2) to the first user equipment (1) via the radio access network, the
method further comprising instructing the first user equipment (1) to eavesdrop the
second uplink (UL2), receiving eavesdropping data, concerning the second uplink (UL2),
from the first user equipment (1),
obtaining data from the second uplink (UL2) received directly from the second user
equipment (2), and the evaluating further includes
evaluating the second uplink (UL2) reception of the first user equipment (1) based
on the eavesdropping data from the first user equipment (1), and the data obtained
from the second uplink (UL2) from the second user equipment (2).
6. A method of providing a direct communication link between a first (1) and a second
user equipment (2), the method being performed by a node of a cellular radio access
network (3), and includes the method of estimating a radio link quality according
to any of claims 1 to 5, and further includes instructing the second user equipment
(2) to communicate directly with the first user equipment (1) using the direct radio
link.
7. The method of providing a direct communication link according to claim 6, further
including instructing the first user equipment (1) and/or the second user equipment
(2) to report data about the direct radio link to the network.
8. The method of providing a direct communication link according to claim 6 or 7, including
instructing the first user equipment (1) and / or the second user equipment (2) to
report data about radio communication resources of the radio access network to the
node of the radio access network.
9. A method of monitoring communication in a cellular radio access network (3) for estimating
communication in a possible direct link between a first user equipment (1) and a second
user equipment (2),
characterized by the method being performed during communication between the first user equipment
(1) and the second user equipment (2), wherein the first user equipment (1) communicate
user data to the second user equipment (2) via the cellular radio access network (3)
by means of a first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment (1) to the cellular
radio access network (3), and a first downlink (DL1) from the cellular radio access
network (3) to the second user equipment (2), the method being performed by the second
user equipment (2) and comprising:
- receiving (102) an instruction from the cellular radio access network (3) to eavesdrop
the first uplink (UL1),
- receiving (103) transmissions on the first uplink (UL1)
- obtaining (104) digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions,
and
- reporting (105) to the cellular radio access network (3), which reporting includes
transmitting the obtained digital data,
wherein the step of receiving the instruction includes receiving an identification
of the data to be eavesdropped in the first uplink (UL1),
wherein the identification of data indicates a time period or time-slots of the first
uplink (UL1) and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink (UL1) wherein the
step of receiving the instruction includes the second user equipment to report back
eavesdropped data to the network, and including buffering the data obtained from the
first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment (1).
10. The method according claim 9, wherein the step of receiving an instruction includes
receiving decoding parameters that enable decoding of the first uplink (UL1), and
the step of obtaining digital data includes decoding the first uplink (UL1).
11. The method according claim 15, wherein the decoding parameters includes at least one
parameter from a group of parameters including a code-rate of first uplink (UL1),
a modulation scheme of the first uplink (UL1) and an encryption key of the first uplink
(UL1).
12. The method according any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the communication comprises decoding
data received through the first downlink (DL1) in at least two steps including decoding
the data into an intermediate form of digital data and further into the user data,
wherein the step of obtaining digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions
comprises decoding the received uplink transmissions into digital data of the intermediate
form of digital data.
13. The method according any of claims 9 to 12, the reporting to the cellular radio access
network being made by means of a control channel.
14. A communication node (3) for a cellular radio access network provided for communication
between a first user equipment (1) and a second user equipment (2), and comprising
a control unit for estimating a radio link quality of a possible direct link between
the first user equipment (1) and the second user equipment (2), characterized by the control unit (33) comprising an evaluator (35) being adapted to perform a method
of estimating a radio link quality of a possible direct link between the first user
equipment (1) and the second user equipment (2) during communication between the first
user equipment (1) and the second user equipment (2), which communication includes
using a first uplink (UL1) and a first downlink channel (DL1) for the communication
from the first user equipment (1) to the second user equipment (2) via the cellular
radio access network,
the method of estimating comprising
instructing the second user equipment (2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1), receiving
eavesdropping data, concerning the first uplink (UL1), from the second user equipment
(2),
obtaining data from the first uplink (UL1) received directly from the first user equipment
(1),
evaluating a first uplink (UL1) reception of the second user equipment (2),
which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping data from the second user equipment
(2), and the data obtained from the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment
(1),
wherein the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes providing the
second user equipment (2) with an identification of the data to be eavesdropped in
the first uplink (UL1),
wherein the identification of data indicates a time period or time-slots of the first
uplink (UL1) and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink (UL1), wherein the
step of instructing includes providing the second user equipment (2) with decoding
parameters that enable decoding of the second uplink (UL2),
wherein the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes instructing
the second user equipment to report back eavesdropped data to the network, and including
buffering the data obtained from the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment
(1), the evaluating step includes comparing the received eavesdropped uplink data
with the buffered data.
15. The communication node (3) for a cellular radio access network according to claim
14, further including a user equipment locator (34) for selecting a possible direct
link for the radio link quality estimation, the user equipment locator (34) being
adapted to investigate, during communication between the first (1) and the second
user equipment (2) whether the geographical distance between the first (1) and second
user equipment (2) may be short enough for direct link communication.
16. A user equipment (2) for communicating in a cellular radio access network, which user
equipment is provided for communicating with other user equipment (1), the user equipment
(2)
characterized by comprising an eavesdropper (15) adapted to perform a method of monitoring communication
in the cellular radio access network (3) for estimating communication in a possible
direct link with an other user equipment (1), when communicating with the other user
equipment via the cellular radio access network, during which communication the other
user equipment (1) communicate user data to the user equipment (2) via the cellular
radio access network (3) by means of a first uplink (UL1) from the other user equipment
(1) to the cellular radio access network (3), and a first downlink (DL1) from the
cellular radio access network (3) to the user equipment (2),
the method of monitoring comprising:
- receiving an instruction from the cellular radio access network (3) to eavesdrop
the first uplink (UL1),
- receiving transmissions on the first uplink (UL1)
- obtaining digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions, and
- reporting to the cellular radio access network (3), which reporting includes transmitting
the obtained digital data
wherein the step of receiving the instruction includes receiving an identification
of the data to be eavesdropped in the first uplink (UL1), wherein the identification
of data indicates a time period or time-slots of the first uplink (UL1) and/or a physical
resource block of the first uplink (UL1) wherein the step of receiving the instruction
includes the second user equipment to report back eavesdropped data to the network,
and including buffering the data obtained from the first uplink (UL1) from the first
user equipment (1).
17. A computer program (39) for a communication node (3) of a cellular radio access network,
the computer program comprising program code, which when run by the node causes the
node to perform a method of estimating a radio link quality of a possible direct link
between a first user equipment (1) and a second user equipment (2), the method being
performed during communication between the first user equipment (1) and the second
user equipment (2), which communication includes using a first uplink (UL1) and a
first downlink channel (DL1) for the communication from the first user equipment (1)
to the second user equipment (2) via the cellular radio access network, the method
comprising the steps of:
instructing the second user equipment (2) to eavesdrop the first uplink (UL1),
receiving eavesdropping data, concerning the first uplink (UL1), from the second user
equipment (2),
obtaining data from the first uplink (UL1) received directly from the first user equipment
(1),
evaluating a first uplink (UL1) reception of the second user equipment (2),
which evaluation is based on the eavesdropping data from the second user equipment
(2), and the data obtained from the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment
(1)
wherein the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes providing the
second user equipment (2) with an identification of the data to be eavesdropped in
the first uplink (UL1),
wherein the identification of data indicates a time period or time-slots of the first
uplink (UL1) and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink (UL1),
wherein the step of instructing includes providing the second user equipment (2) with
decoding parameters that enable decoding of the second uplink (UL2),
wherein the step of instructing the second user equipment (2) includes instructing
the second user equipment to report back eavesdropped data to the network, and including
buffering the data obtained from the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment
(1), the evaluating step includes comparing the received eavesdropped uplink data
with the buffered data.
18. A computer program (19) for a user equipment (1, 2) of a cellular radio access network
(3), which user equipment is provided for communicating with other user equipment
(1), the computer program comprising program code, which when run on the user equipment
enables the user equipment to perform a method of monitoring communication in the
cellular radio access network (3) for estimating communication in a possible direct
link between with an other user equipment (1),
when the user equipment (2) communicate with the other_user equipment (1) via the
cellular radio access network (3), during which communication the other user equipment
(1) communicate user data to the user equipment (2) via the cellular radio access
network (3) by means of a first uplink (UL1) from the other user equipment (1) to
the cellular radio access network (3), and a first downlink (DL1) from the cellular
radio access network (3) to the user equipment (2),
the method of monitoring communication comprising:
- receiving an instruction from the cellular radio access network (3) to eavesdrop
the first uplink (UL1),
- receiving transmissions on the first uplink (UL1)
- obtaining digital data from the received first uplink (UL1) transmissions, and
- reporting to the cellular radio access network (3), which reporting includes transmitting
the obtained digital data
wherein the step of receiving the instruction includes receiving an identification
of the data to be eavesdropped in the first uplink (UL1),
wherein the identification of data indicates a time period or time-slots of the first
uplink (UL1) and/or a physical resource block of the first uplink (UL1)
wherein the step of receiving the instruction includes the second user equipment to
report back eavesdropped data to the network, and including buffering the data obtained
from the first uplink (UL1) from the first user equipment (1).
1. Verfahren zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindungsqualität einer möglichen Direktverbindung
zwischen einem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und einem zweiten Benutzergerät (2), wobei
das Verfahren durch zumindest einen Kommunikationsknoten eines zellularen Funkzugangsnetzes
(3) durchgeführt wird,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verfahren während Kommunikation zwischen dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und dem
zweiten Benutzergerät (2) durchgeführt wird, wobei die Kommunikation Verwenden eines
ersten Uplink-(UL1) und eines ersten Downlink-Kanals (DL1) für die Kommunikation von
dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) zu dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz
beinhaltet, wobei das Verfahren Folgendes umfasst:
Anweisen (203) des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2), den ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören,
Empfangen (205) von Abhördaten in Bezug auf den ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem zweiten
Benutzergerät (2),
Erlangen (204) von Daten von dem ersten Uplink (UL1), die direkt von dem ersten Benutzergerät
(1) empfangen werden,
Bewerten (207) eines Empfangs des ersten Uplinks (UL1) des zweiten Benutzergeräts
(2), wobei die Bewertung auf den Abhördaten von dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) und
den Daten, die von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) erlangt
werden, basiert, wobei der Schritt des Anweisens des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2) Bereitstellen
einer Identifizierung der Daten, die in dem ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören sind, an
das zweite Benutzergerät (2) beinhaltet, wobei die Identifizierung von Daten einen
Zeitraum oder Zeitfenster des ersten Uplinks (UL1) und/oder einen physischen Ressourcenblock
des ersten Uplinks (UL1) angibt, wobei der Schritt des Anweisens Bereitstellen von
Decodierparametern, die Decodieren des zweiten Uplinks (UL2) ermöglichen, an das zweite
Benutzergerät (2) beinhaltet, wobei der Schritt des Anweisens des zweiten Benutzergeräts
(2) Anweisen des zweiten Benutzergeräts, abgehörte Daten an das Netz zurückzuberichten,
beinhaltet, und beinhaltend Puffern der Daten, die von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von
dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) erlangt werden, wobei der Bewertungsschritt Vergleichen
der empfangenen abgehörten Uplink-Daten mit den gepufferten Daten beinhaltet.
2. Verfahren zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Decodierparameter
zumindest einen Parameter aus einer Gruppe von Parametern beinhaltend Coderate eines
zweiten Uplinks (UL2), Modulationsschema des zweiten Uplinks (UL2) und Verschlüsselungsschlüssel
des zweiten Uplinks (UL2) beinhaltet.
3. Verfahren zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 2, wobei
der Bewertungsschritt Bestimmen, ob eine Direktverbindung zwischen dem ersten (1)
und zweiten Benutzergerät (2) ein Qualitätskriterium erfüllt, beinhaltet.
4. Verfahren zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, beinhaltend,
vor dem Schritt des Anweisens des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2), den ersten Uplink (UL1)
abzuhören, Untersuchen, ob der geografische Abstand zwischen dem ersten (1) und zweiten
Benutzergerät (2) für Direktverbindungskommunikation ausreichend kurz sein kann.
5. Verfahren zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei
die Kommunikation, während der das Verfahren durchgeführt wird, Verwenden eines zweiten
Uplink (UL2)-Kanals und eines zweiten Downlink (DL2)-Kanals für die Kommunikation
von dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) zu dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) über das Funkzugangsnetz
beinhaltet, das Verfahren ferner umfassend Anweisen des ersten Benutzergeräts (1),
den zweiten Uplink (UL2) abzuhören, Empfangen von Abhördaten in Bezug auf den zweiten
Uplink (UL2) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1),
Erlangen von Daten von dem zweiten Uplink (UL2), die direkt von dem zweiten Benutzergerät
(2) empfangen werden, und wobei das Bewerten ferner Bewerten des Empfangs des zweiten
Uplinks (UL2) des ersten Benutzergeräts (1) basierend auf den Abhördaten von dem ersten
Benutzergerät (1) und den Daten, die von dem zweiten Uplink (UL2) von dem zweiten
Benutzergerät (2) erlangt werden, beinhaltet.
6. Verfahren zum Bereitstellen einer Direktkommunikationsverbindung zwischen einem ersten
(1) und einem zweiten Benutzergerät (2), wobei das Verfahren durch einen Knoten eines
zellularen Funkzugangsnetzes (3) durchgeführt wird, und das Verfahren des Schätzens
einer Funkverbindungsqualität nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5 beinhaltet, und ferner
Anweisen des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2), direkt mit dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) unter
Verwendung der Direktfunkverbindung zu kommunizieren, beinhaltet.
7. Verfahren zum Bereitstellen einer Direktkommunikationsverbindung nach Anspruch 6,
ferner beinhaltend Anweisen des ersten Benutzergeräts (1) und/oder des zweiten Benutzergeräts
(2), Daten über die Direktfunkverbindung an das Netz zu berichten.
8. Verfahren zum Bereitstellen einer Direktkommunikationsverbindung nach Anspruch 6 oder
7, beinhaltend Anweisen des ersten Benutzergeräts (1) und/oder des zweiten Benutzergeräts
(2), Daten über Funkkommunikationsressourcen des Funkzugangsnetzes an den Knoten des
Funkzugangsnetzes zu berichten.
9. Verfahren zum Überwachen von Kommunikation in einem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3)
zum Schätzen von Kommunikation in einer möglichen Direktverbindung zwischen einem
ersten Benutzergerät (1) und einem zweiten Benutzergerät (2),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verfahren während Kommunikation zwischen dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und dem
zweiten Benutzergerät (2) durchgeführt wird, wobei das erste Benutzergerät (1) Benutzerdaten
über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz (3) mittels eines ersten Uplinks (UL1) von dem
ersten Benutzergerät (1) zu dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) und eines ersten Downlinks
(DL1) von dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) zu dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) an das
zweite Benutzergerät (2) kommuniziert, wobei das Verfahren durch das zweite Benutzergerät
(2) durchgeführt wird und Folgendes umfasst:
- Empfangen (102) einer Anweisung von dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3), den ersten
Uplink (UL1) abzuhören,
- Empfangen (103) von Übertragungen auf dem ersten Uplink (UL1),
- Erlangen (104) von digitalen Daten von den empfangen Übertragungen des ersten Uplinks
(UL1), und
- Berichten (105) an das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz (3), wobei das Berichten Übertragen
der erlangten digitalen Daten beinhaltet,
wobei der Schritt des Empfangens der Anweisung Empfangen einer Identifizierung der
Daten, die in dem ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören sind, beinhaltet,
wobei die Identifizierung von Daten einen Zeitraum oder Zeitfenster des ersten Uplinks
(UL1) und/oder einen physischen Ressourcenblock des ersten Uplinks (UL1) angibt, wobei
der Schritt des Empfangens der Anweisung beinhaltet, dass das zweite Benutzergerät
abgehörte Daten an das Netz zurückberichtet, und beinhaltend Puffern der Daten, die
von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) erlangt werden.
10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Schritt des Empfangens einer Anweisung Empfangen
von Decodierparametern beinhaltet, die Decodieren des ersten Uplinks (UL1) ermöglichen,
und der Schritt des Erlangens von digitalen Daten Decodieren des ersten Uplinks (UL1)
beinhaltet.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 15, wobei die Decodierparameter zumindest einen Parameter
aus einer Gruppe von Parametern beinhaltend eine Coderate eines ersten Uplinks (UL1),
ein Modulationsschema des ersten Uplinks (UL1) und einen Verschlüsselungsschlüssel
des ersten Uplinks (UL1) beinhalten.
12. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 11, wobei die Kommunikation Decodieren von
Daten, die über den ersten Downlink (DL1) empfangen werden, in zumindest zwei Schritten
beinhaltet, beinhaltend Decodieren der Daten in eine Zwischenform von digitalen Daten
und ferner in die Benutzerdaten, wobei der Schritt des Erlangens von digitalen Daten
von den empfangen Übertragungen des ersten Uplinks (UL1) Decodieren der empfangen
Uplink-Übertragungen in digitale Daten der Zwischenform von digitalen Daten umfasst.
13. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 12, wobei das Berichten an das zellulare
Funkzugangsnetz mittels eines Steuerkanals erfolgt.
14. Kommunikationsknoten (3) für ein zellulares Funkzugangsnetz, bereitgestellt zur Kommunikation
zwischen einem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und einem zweiten Benutzergerät (2), und umfassend
eine Steuereinheit zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindungsqualität einer möglichen Direktverbindung
zwischen dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2),
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuereinheit (33) einen Bewertungseinrichtung (35) umfasst, der dazu angepasst
ist, ein Verfahren zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindungsqualität einer möglichen Direktverbindung
zwischen dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) während Kommunikation
zwischen dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) durchzuführen,
wobei die Kommunikation Verwenden eines ersten Uplink- (UL1) und eines ersten Downlink-Kanals
(DL1) für die Kommunikation von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) zu dem zweiten Benutzergerät
(2) über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz beinhaltet, wobei das Verfahren des Schätzens
Folgendes umfasst:
Anweisen des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2), den ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören,
Empfangen von Abhördaten in Bezug auf den ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem zweiten Benutzergerät
(2),
Erlangen von Daten von dem ersten Uplink (UL1), die direkt von dem ersten Benutzergerät
(1) empfangen werden,
Bewerten eines Empfangs des ersten Uplinks (UL1) des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2), wobei
die Bewertung auf den Abhördaten von dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) und den Daten,
die von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) erlangt werden, basiert,
wobei der Schritt des Anweisens des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2) Bereitstellen einer
Identifizierung der Daten, die in dem ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören sind, an das zweite
Benutzergerät (2) beinhaltet,
wobei die Identifizierung von Daten einen Zeitraum oder Zeitfenster des ersten Uplinks
(UL1) und/oder einen physischen Ressourcenblock des ersten Uplinks (UL1) angibt,
wobei der Schritt des Anweisens Bereitstellen von Decodierparametern, die Decodieren
des zweiten Uplinks (UL2) ermöglichen, an das zweite Benutzergerät (2) beinhaltet,
wobei der Schritt des Anweisens des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2) Anweisen des zweiten
Benutzergeräts, abgehörte Daten an das Netz zurückzuberichten, beinhaltet, und beinhaltend
Puffern der Daten, die von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1)
erlangt werden, wobei der Bewertungsschritt Vergleichen der empfangenen abgehörten
Uplink-Daten mit den gepufferten Daten beinhaltet.
15. Kommunikationsknoten (3) für ein zellulares Funkzugangsnetz nach Anspruch 14, ferner
beinhaltend einen Benutzergerätelokalisator (34) zum Auswählen einer möglichen Direktverbindung
für die Funkverbindungsqualitätsschätzung, wobei der Benutzergerätelokalisator (34)
dazu angepasst ist, während Kommunikation zwischen dem ersten (1) und dem zweiten
Benutzergerät (2) zu untersuchen, ob der geografische Abstand zwischen dem ersten
(1) und zweiten Benutzergerät (2) für Direktverbindungskommunikation ausreichend kurz
sein kann.
16. Benutzergerät (2) zum Kommunizieren in einem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz, wobei das
Benutzergerät zum Kommunizieren mit einem anderen Benutzergerät (1) bereitgestellt
ist, wobei das Benutzergerät (2)
dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass es eine Abhörvorrichtung (15) umfasst, die dazu angepasst ist, ein Verfahren zum
Überwachen von Kommunikation in dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) zum Schätzen von
Kommunikation in einer möglichen Direktverbindung mit einem anderen Benutzergerät
(1) beim Kommunizieren mit dem anderen Benutzergerät über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz
durchzuführen, wobei während der Kommunikation das andere Benutzergerät (1) Benutzerdaten
über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz (3) mittels eines ersten Uplinks (UL1) von dem
anderen Benutzergerät (1) zu dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) und eines ersten Downlinks
(DL1) von dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) zu dem Benutzergerät (2) an das Benutzergerät
(2) kommuniziert, wobei das Verfahren des Überwachens Folgendes umfasst:
- Empfangen einer Anweisung von dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3), den ersten Uplink
(UL1) abzuhören,
- Empfangen von Übertragungen auf dem ersten Uplink (UL1),
- Erlangen von digitalen Daten von den empfangen Übertragungen des ersten Uplinks
(UL1), und
- Berichten an das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz (3), wobei das Berichten Übertragen der
erlangten digitalen Daten beinhaltet,
wobei der Schritt des Empfangens der Anweisung Empfangen einer Identifizierung der
Daten, die in dem ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören sind, beinhaltet,
wobei die Identifizierung von Daten einen Zeitraum oder Zeitfenster des ersten Uplinks
(UL1) und/oder einen physischen Ressourcenblock des ersten Uplinks (UL1) angibt, wobei
der Schritt des Empfangens der Anweisung beinhaltet, dass das zweite Benutzergerät
abgehörte Daten an das Netz zurückberichtet, und beinhaltend Puffern der Daten, die
von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) erlangt werden.
17. Computerprogramm (39) für einen Kommunikationsknoten (3) eines zellularen Funkzugangsnetzes,
wobei das Computerprogramm Programmcode umfasst, der bei Ausführung durch den Knoten
den Knoten dazu veranlasst, ein Verfahren zum Schätzen einer Funkverbindungsqualität
einer möglichen Direktverbindung zwischen einem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und einem
zweiten Benutzergerät (2) durchzuführen, wobei das Verfahren während Kommunikation
zwischen dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) und dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) durchgeführt
wird, wobei die Kommunikation Verwenden eines ersten Uplink- (UL1) und eines ersten
Downlink-Kanals (DL1) für die Kommunikation von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) zu dem
zweiten Benutzergerät (2) über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz beinhaltet, wobei das
Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
Anweisen des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2), den ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören,
Empfangen von Abhördaten in Bezug auf den ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem zweiten Benutzergerät
(2),
Erlangen von Daten von dem ersten Uplink (UL1), die direkt von dem ersten Benutzergerät
(1) empfangen werden,
Bewerten eines Empfangs des ersten Uplinks (UL1) des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2), wobei
die Bewertung auf den Abhördaten von dem zweiten Benutzergerät (2) und den Daten,
die von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) erlangt werden, basiert,
wobei der Schritt des Anweisens des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2) Bereitstellen einer
Identifizierung der Daten, die in dem ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören sind, an das zweite
Benutzergerät (2) beinhaltet,
wobei die Identifizierung von Daten einen Zeitraum oder Zeitfenster des ersten Uplinks
(UL1) und/oder einen physischen Ressourcenblock des ersten Uplinks (UL1) angibt, wobei
der Schritt des Anweisens Bereitstellen von Decodierparametern, die Decodieren des
zweiten Uplinks (UL2) ermöglichen, an das zweite Benutzergerät (2) beinhaltet,
wobei der Schritt des Anweisens des zweiten Benutzergeräts (2) Anweisen des zweiten
Benutzergeräts, abgehörte Daten an das Netz zurückzuberichten, beinhaltet, und beinhaltend
Puffern der Daten, die von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1)
erlangt werden, wobei der Bewertungsschritt Vergleichen der empfangenen abgehörten
Uplink-Daten mit den gepufferten Daten beinhaltet.
18. Computerprogramm (19) für ein Benutzergerät (1, 2) eines zellularen Funkzugangsnetzes
(3), wobei das Benutzergerät zum Kommunizieren mit einem anderen Benutzergerät (1)
bereitgestellt ist, wobei das Computerprogramm Programmcode umfasst, der bei Ausführung
auf dem Benutzergerät dem Benutzergerät ermöglicht, ein Verfahren zum Überwachen von
Kommunikation in dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) zum Schätzen von Kommunikation
in einer möglichen Direktverbindung mit einem anderen Benutzergerät (1) durchzuführen,
wenn das Benutzergerät (2) mit dem anderen Benutzergerät (1) über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz
(3) kommuniziert, wobei während der Kommunikation das andere Benutzergerät (1) Benutzerdaten
über das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz (3) mittels eines ersten Uplinks (UL1) von dem
anderen Benutzergerät (1) zu dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) und eines ersten Downlinks
(DL1) von dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3) zu dem Benutzergerät (2) an das Benutzergerät
(2) kommuniziert,
wobei das Verfahren des Überwachens von Kommunikation Folgendes umfasst:
- Empfangen einer Anweisung von dem zellularen Funkzugangsnetz (3), den ersten Uplink
(UL1) abzuhören,
- Empfangen von Übertragungen auf dem ersten Uplink (UL1),
- Erlangen von digitalen Daten von den empfangen Übertragungen des ersten Uplinks
(UL1), und
- Berichten an das zellulare Funkzugangsnetz (3), wobei das Berichten Übertragen der
erlangten digitalen Daten beinhaltet,
wobei der Schritt des Empfangens der Anweisung Empfangen einer Identifizierung der
Daten, die in dem ersten Uplink (UL1) abzuhören sind, beinhaltet, wobei die Identifizierung
von Daten einen Zeitraum oder Zeitfenster des ersten Uplinks (UL1) und/oder einen
physischen Ressourcenblock des ersten Uplinks (UL1) angibt,
wobei der Schritt des Empfangens der Anweisung beinhaltet, dass das zweite Benutzergeräts
abgehörte Daten an das Netz zurückberichtet, und beinhaltend Puffern der Daten, die
von dem ersten Uplink (UL1) von dem ersten Benutzergerät (1) erlangt werden.
1. Procédé d'estimation d'une qualité de liaison radio d'une liaison directe possible
entre un premier équipement utilisateur (1) et un deuxième équipement utilisateur
(2), le procédé étant réalisé par au moins un noeud de communication d'un réseau d'accès
radio cellulaire (3), caractérisé en ce que le procédé est réalisé pendant une communication entre le premier équipement utilisateur
(1) et le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), laquelle communication comprend l'utilisation
d'une première liaison montante (UL1) et d'un premier canal de liaison descendante
(DL1) pour la communication du premier équipement utilisateur (1) au deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2) via le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire, le procédé comprenant l'instruction
(203) du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) de mettre sous écoute la première liaison
montante (UL1), la réception (205) de données de mise sous écoute, concernant la première
liaison montante (UL1), du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2),
l'obtention (204) de données de la première liaison montante (UL1) reçues directement
du premier équipement utilisateur (1),
l'évaluation (207) d'une réception de première liaison montante (UL1) du deuxième
équipement utilisateur (2), laquelle évaluation est basée sur les données de mise
sous écoute du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), et les données obtenues de la
première liaison montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1), dans lequel
l'étape d'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) comprend la fourniture
du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) avec une identification des données à mettre
sous écoute dans la première liaison montante (UL1), dans lequel l'identification
de données indique une période de temps ou des créneaux horaires de la première liaison
montante (UL1) et/ou un bloc de ressource physique de la première liaison montante
(UL1), dans lequel l'étape d'instruction comprend la fourniture du deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2) avec des paramètres de décodage qui permettent un décodage de la deuxième
liaison montante (UL2), dans lequel l'étape d'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur
(2) comprend l'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur de rapporter des données
mises sous écoute au réseau, et comprenant la mise en tampon des données obtenues
de la première liaison montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1), l'étape
d'évaluation comprend une comparaison des données de liaison montante mises sous écoute
reçues avec les données mises en tampon.
2. Procédé d'estimation d'une liaison radio selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les
paramètres de décodage comprend au moins un paramètre d'un groupe de paramètres comprenant
un débit de code d'une deuxième liaison montante (UL2), un schéma de modulation de
la deuxième liaison montante (UL2) et une clé de chiffrement de la deuxième liaison
montante (UL2).
3. Procédé d'estimation d'une liaison radio selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 2, dans lequel l'étape d'évaluation comprend le fait de déterminer si une liaison
directe entre le premier (1) et le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) remplit un
critère de qualité.
4. Procédé d'estimation d'une liaison radio selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 3, comprenant avant l'étape d'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2)
de mettre sous écoute la première liaison montante (UL1), le fait d'examiner si la
distance géographique entre le premier (1) et le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2)
est assez courte pour une communication de liaison directe.
5. Procédé d'estimation d'une liaison radio selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 4, dans lequel la communication pendant laquelle le procédé est réalisé comprend
l'utilisation d'un deuxième canal de liaison montante (UL2) et d'un deuxième canal
de liaison descendante (DL2) pour la communication du deuxième équipement utilisateur
(2) au premier équipement utilisateur (1) via le réseau d'accès radio, le procédé
comprenant en outre l'instruction du premier équipement utilisateur (1) de mettre
sous écoute la deuxième liaison montante (UL2), la réception de données de mise sous
écroute, concernant la deuxième liaison montante (UL2), du premier équipement utilisateur
(1),
l'obtention de données de la deuxième liaison montante (UL2) reçues directement du
deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), et l'évaluation comprend en outre l'évaluation
de la réception de la deuxième liaison montante (UL2) du premier équipement utilisateur
(1) sur la base des données de mise sous écoute du premier équipement utilisateur
(1), et les données obtenues de la deuxième liaison montante (UL2) du deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2).
6. Procédé de fourniture d'une liaison de communication directe entre un premier (1)
et un deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), le procédé étant réalisé par un noeud d'un
réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3), et comprend le procédé d'estimation d'une qualité
de liaison radio selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, et comprend en outre
l'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) de communiquer directement avec
le premier équipement utilisateur (1) utilisant la liaison radio directe.
7. Procédé de fourniture d'une liaison de communication directe selon la revendication
6, comprenant en outre l'instruction du premier équipement utilisateur (1) et/ou du
deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) de rapporter des données relatives à la liaison
radio directe au réseau.
8. Procédé de fourniture d'une liaison de communication directe selon la revendication
6 ou 7, comprenant l'instruction du premier équipement utilisateur (1) et/ou du deuxième
équipement utilisateur (2) de rapporter des données relatives à des ressources de
communication radio du réseau d'accès radio au noeud du réseau d'accès radio.
9. Procédé de surveillance de communication dans un réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3)
pour estimer une communication dans une liaison directe possible entre un premier
équipement utilisateur (1) et un deuxième équipement utilisateur (2),
caractérisé en ce que le procédé est réalisé pendant une communication entre le premier équipement utilisateur
(1) et le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), dans lequel le premier équipement utilisateur
(1) communiquent des données d'utilisateur au deuxième équipement utilisateur (2)
via le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) au moyen d'une première liaison montante
(UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1) au réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3),
et une première liaison descendante (DL1) du réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) au
deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), le procédé étant réalisé par le deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2) et comprenant :
- la réception (102) d'une instruction du réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) pour
mettre sous écoute la première liaison montante (UL1),
- la réception (103) de transmissions sur la première liaison montante (UL1)
- l'obtention (104) de données numériques des transmissions de première liaison montante
(UL1) reçues, et
- le rapport (105) au réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3), lequel rapport comprend
la transmission des données numériques obtenues,
dans lequel l'étape de réception de l'instruction comprend la réception d'une identification
des données à mettre sous écoute dans la première liaison montante (UL1),
dans lequel l'identification de données indique une période de temps ou des créneaux
horaires de la première liaison montante (UL1) et/ou un bloc de ressource physique
de la première liaison montante (UL1), dans lequel l'étape de réception de l'instruction
comprend le deuxième équipement utilisateur pour rapporter des données mises sous
écoute au réseau, et comprenant la mise en tampon des données obtenues de la première
liaison montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1).
10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, dans lequel l'étape de réception d'une instruction
comprend la réception de paramètres de décodage qui permettent un décodage de la première
liaison montante (UL1), et l'étape d'obtention de données numériques comprend un décodage
de la première liaison montante (UL1).
11. Procédé selon la revendication 15, dans lequel les paramètres de décodage comprend
au moins un paramètre d'un groupe de paramètres comprenant un débit de code d'une
première liaison montante (UL1), un schéma de modulation de la première liaison montante
(UL1) et une clé de chiffrement de la première liaison montante (UL1).
12. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 11, dans lequel la communication
comprend des données de décodage reçues par le biais de la première liaison descendante
(DL1) en au moins deux étapes comprenant le décodage des données en une forme intermédiaire
de données numériques et en outre en données d'utilisateur, dans lequel l'étape d'obtention
de données numériques des transmissions de première liaison montante (UL1) reçues
comprend le décodage des transmissions de liaison montante reçues en données numériques
de la forme intermédiaire de données numériques.
13. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 12, le rapport au réseau d'accès
radio cellulaire étant effectué au moyen d'un canal de commande.
14. Noeud de communication (3) pour un réseau d'accès radio cellulaire prévu pour une
communication entre un premier équipement utilisateur (1) et un deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2), et comprenant une unité de commande pour estimer une qualité de liaison
radio d'une liaison directe possible entre le premier équipement utilisateur (1) et
le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), caractérisé en ce que l'unité de commande (33) comprend un évaluateur (35) adapté pour réaliser un procédé
d'estimation d'une qualité de liaison radio d'une liaison directe possible entre le
premier équipement utilisateur (1) et le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) pendant
une communication entre le premier équipement utilisateur (1) et le deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2), laquelle communication comprend l'utilisation d'une première liaison
montante (UL1) et un premier canal de liaison descendante (DL1) pour la communication
du premier équipement utilisateur (1) au deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) via le
réseau d'accès radio cellulaire, le procédé d'estimation comprenant
l'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) de mettre sous écoute la première
liaison montante (UL1),
la réception de données de mise sous écoute, concernant la première liaison montante
(UL1), du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2),
l'obtention de données de la première liaison montante (UL1) reçues directement du
premier équipement utilisateur (1),
l'évaluation d'une réception de première liaison montante (UL1) du deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2), laquelle évaluation est basée sur les données de mise sous écoute
du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), et les données obtenues de la première liaison
montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1),
dans lequel l'étape d'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) comprend
la fourniture du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) avec une identification des données
à mettre sous écoute dans la première liaison montante (UL1),
dans lequel l'identification de données indique une période de temps ou des créneaux
horaires de la première liaison montante (UL1) et/ou un bloc de ressource physique
de la première liaison montante (UL1),
dans lequel l'étape d'instruction comprend la fourniture du deuxième équipement utilisateur
(2) avec des paramètres de décodage qui permettent un décodage de la deuxième liaison
montante (UL2),
dans lequel l'étape d'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) comprend
l'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur de rapporter des données mises sous
écoute au réseau, et comprenant la mise en tampon des données obtenues de la première
liaison montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1), l'étape d'évaluation
comprend une comparaison des données de liaison montante mises sous écoute reçues
avec les données mises en tampon.
15. Noeud de communication (3) pour un réseau d'accès radio cellulaire selon la revendication
14, comprenant en outre un localisateur d'équipement utilisateur (34) pour sélectionner
une liaison directe possible pour l'estimation de qualité de liaison radio, le localisateur
d'équipement d'utilisateur (34) étant adapté pour examiner, pendant la communication
entre le premier (1) et le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) si la distance géographique
entre le premier (1) et le deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) est assez courte pour
une communication de liaison directe.
16. Équipement utilisateur (2) pour la communication dans un réseau d'accès radio cellulaire,
lequel équipement utilisateur est prévu pour communiquer avec un autre équipement
utilisateur (1), l'équipement utilisateur (2) étant
caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un dispositif de mise sous écoute (15) adapté pour réaliser un procédé
de surveillance de communication dans le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) pour
estimer une communication dans une liaison directe possible avec un autre équipement
utilisateur (1), lors d'une communication avec l'autre équipement utilisateur via
le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire, pendant laquelle communication l'autre équipement
utilisateur (1) communiquent des données d'utilisateur à l'équipement utilisateur
(2) via le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) au moyen d'une première liaison montante
(UL1) de l'autre équipement utilisateur (1) au réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3),
et une première liaison descendante (DL1) du réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) à
l'équipement utilisateur (2),
le procédé de surveillance comprenant :
- la réception d'une instruction du réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) pour mettre
sous écoute la première liaison montante (UL1),
- la réception de transmissions sur la première liaison montante (UL1)
- l'obtention de données numériques des transmissions de première liaison montante
(UL1) reçues, et
- le rapport au réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3), lequel rapport comprend la transmission
des données numériques obtenues,
dans lequel l'étape de réception de l'instruction comprend la réception d'une identification
des données à mettre sous écoute dans la première liaison montante (UL1),
dans lequel l'identification de données indique une période de temps ou des créneaux
horaires de la première liaison montante (UL1) et/ou un bloc de ressource physique
de la première liaison montante (UL1) dans lequel l'étape de réception de l'instruction
comprend le deuxième équipement utilisateur pour rapporter des données mises sous
écoute au réseau, et comprenant la mise en tampon des données obtenues de la première
liaison montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1).
17. Programme informatique (39) pour un noeud de communication (3) d'un réseau d'accès
radio cellulaire, le programme informatique comprenant un code de programme, lequel
lorsqu'il est exécuté par le noeud amène le noeud à réaliser un procédé d'estimation
d'une qualité de liaison radio d'une liaison directe possible entre un premier équipement
utilisateur (1) et un deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), le procédé étant réalisé
pendant une communication entre le premier équipement utilisateur (1) et le deuxième
équipement utilisateur (2), laquelle communication comprend l'utilisation d'une première
liaison montante (UL1) et d'un premier canal de liaison descendante (DL1) pour la
communication du premier équipement utilisateur (1) au deuxième équipement utilisateur
(2) via le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire, le procédé comprenant les étapes de :
instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) de mettre sous écoute la première
liaison montante (UL1),
réception de données de mise sous écoute, concernant la première liaison montante
(UL1), du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), obtention de données de la première
liaison montante (UL1) reçues directement du premier équipement utilisateur (1),
évaluation d'une réception de première liaison montante (UL1) du deuxième équipement
utilisateur (2), laquelle évaluation est basée sur les données de mise sous écoute
du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2), et les données obtenues de la première liaison
montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1),
dans lequel l'étape d'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) comprend
la fourniture du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) avec une identification des données
à mettre sous écoute dans la première liaison montante (UL1),
dans lequel l'identification de données indique une période de temps ou des créneaux
horaires de la première liaison montante (UL1) et/ou un bloc de ressource physique
de la première liaison montante (UL1),
dans lequel l'étape d'instruction comprend la fourniture du deuxième équipement utilisateur
(2) avec des paramètres de décodage qui permettent un décodage de la deuxième liaison
montante (UL2),
dans lequel l'étape d'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur (2) comprend
l'instruction du deuxième équipement utilisateur de rapporter des données mises sous
écoute au réseau,
et comprenant la mise en tampon des données obtenues de la première liaison montante
(UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1), l'étape d'évaluation comprend une comparaison
des données de liaison montante mises sous écoute reçues avec les données mises en
tampon.
18. Programme informatique (19) pour un équipement utilisateur (1, 2) d'un réseau d'accès
radio cellulaire (3),
lequel équipement utilisateur est prévu pour communiquer avec un autre équipement
utilisateur (1), le programme informatique comprenant un code de programme, lequel
lorsqu'il est exécuté sur l'équipement utilisateur permet à l'équipement utilisateur
de réaliser un procédé de surveillance de communication dans le réseau d'accès radio
cellulaire (3) pour estimer une communication dans une liaison directe possible entre
avec un autre équipement utilisateur (1)
lorsque l'équipement utilisateur (2) communiquent avec l'autre équipement utilisateur
(1) via le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3), pendant laquelle communication l'autre
équipement utilisateur (1) communiquent des données d'utilisateur à l'équipement utilisateur
(2) via le réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) au moyen d'une première liaison montante
(UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1) au réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3),
et d'une première liaison descendante (DL1) du réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3)
à l'équipement utilisateur (2),
le procédé de surveillance de communication comprenant :
- la réception d'une instruction du réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3) pour mettre
sous écoute la première liaison montante (UL1),
- la réception de transmissions sur la première liaison montante (UL1)
- l'obtention de données numériques des transmissions de première liaison montante
(UL1) reçues, et
- le rapport au réseau d'accès radio cellulaire (3), lequel rapport comprend la transmission
des données numériques obtenues,
dans lequel l'étape de réception de l'instruction comprend une réception d'une identification
des données à mettre sous écoute dans la première liaison montante (UL1),
dans lequel l'identification de données indique une période de temps ou des créneaux
horaires de la première liaison montante (UL1) et/ou un bloc de ressource physique
de la première liaison montante (UL1), dans lequel l'étape de réception de l'instruction
comprend le deuxième équipement utilisateur pour rapporter des données mises sous
écoute au réseau, et comprenant la mise en tampon des données obtenues de la première
liaison montante (UL1) du premier équipement utilisateur (1).